Apply for a temporary limited licence

Temporary limited licences are usually sought by persons or organisations holding one-off events, such as a ball or presentation night or a one-off event requiring an extension of trading hours or the size of the licensed premises.

We recommend event organisers contact the VCGLR whilst planning an event and before you apply for a new licence. Event organisers and managers can coordinate with a Licensing Officer who will provide direction on application requirements, content and approval timelines. The Licensing team can be contacted via completing the contact us form.

Note: If your event is held outdoors, you'll need to provide a plan of the site with the proposed licensed area outlined in red, with your application. For more information download the Plans for Temporary Limited Licence Fact Sheet (PDF, 122.26 KB).

Applicants are advised to lodge liquor licence applications at least eight weeks in advance. The time taken to process an application will vary depending on a range of factors including the complexity of the application and any objections which may be raised.

Find out how to apply below.

Trading hours

You should specify the hours you want to operate in your application form.

Note that if you're seeking to trade past 1am, we require a minimum of 50 days to process the application. You may be required to display a public notice at the venue for 28 days. Victoria Police and the local council may review your application.

If you're seeking to trade past 1am in the municipalities of City of Yarra, City of Port Phillip, City of Melbourne (including Docklands), or City of Stonnington, you're also required to satisfy the VCGLR that:

your event is one of a significant cultural festival, a major tourist event, New Year's Eve, a major live music event, or a major charity event

Online

Applications can be made from mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, as well as traditional computers, anytime. All information transmitted via the portal is encrypted and secure.

Applications for a limited licence should still be lodged at least eight weeks before the event, as lodging an application doesn't automatically mean it will be approved. Certain applications need to be reviewed by Victoria Police and local councils, which have their own time frames.

If you would like a copy of any of these documents in a more accessible format, please submit an enquiry via the contact us form.

Renewable limited licence

Renewable limited licences authorise the supply of liquor where the scale and scope of the supply is substantially restricted or limited.

Fees

For information about the application fees associated with temporary limited licences can be found in the Liquor licence fee fact sheet (PDF, 322.03 KB).